SENSATIONAL TRIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1922, Page 5

SENSATIONAL TRIAL.

ALLEGED WIFE-POISONING. ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, April 10. In the second week of the case in which Armstrong (a solicitor) is charged with poisoning his wife, the interest is maintained. The case is not expected to finish before Friday. The court was crowded to hear the opening of the defence. Mr. Curtis Bennett submitted that, though the defence bad not the onus of proving it, the probability was that Mrs. Armstrong committed suicide when she returned home from the asylum. Finding that she was becoming worse, mentally and physically, she prepared to do something desperate. The prosecution entirely failed to show a motive for murder- . . Mr. Justice Darling was of opinion that this opened an entirely new case. Armstrong gave evidence in a calm and clear manner. His relations with his wife were always very happy. She first showed delusions in August, and shortly afterwards the doctors suggested the removal of razors and revolvers from her bedroom, which was done. There was not the slightest truth in the suggestion that he administered arsenic.

He never had anything to do with the preparation or serving of her food. Deceased was a martyr to indigestion and rheumatism, and always had a stock of medicines for them. Armstrong detailed the quantities and uses to which he put arsenic. He explained that the packet found upon him when arrested was due to the fact that he was wearing his gardening coat.